Cat Deeley's forgotten first boyfriend she was rumoured to have secretly married

Daily Mirror

6 days ago

Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty have split after 19 years together, but Cat was previously in a relationship with a PR expert Mark Whelan and was even linked to Leonardo DiCaprio
TV stars Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty have shocked fans by announcing their split after more than a decade of marriage.
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The couple met while hosting BBC 's Fame Academy together in 2002, but only made their first public appearance as a couple nine years later in 2011. They wed a year later in September 2012 at a ceremony in Rome and have two children together
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Before Patrick came on the scene, This Morning star Cat was in a long-term relationship with public relations expert Mark Whelan. There were even rumours that the pair had tied the knot - but Cat's reps denied these claims. Sadly, things didn't work out and they parted ways in 2006. Cat's latest break-up comes after Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones' sad split - and now he's joined a notorious dating app on a lads' holiday.
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Speaking about her then-partner, Cat said Mark "used to be a bad boy, but these days is a lot more mellow." In a previous interview, she said: "He's ten years older than me and very smart and he's introduced me to things that weren't in my realm."
READ MORE: Cat Deeley found moving back to the UK 'really hard' before split from Patrick Kielty
However, after five years together, the pair went their separate ways. "Mark has been reassessing his life and decided his future wasn't with Cat," a friend told the Daily Star at the time. "He still loves her but knew they wouldn't spend the rest of their lives together."
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Cat - who was also once linked to Leonardo DiCaprio - confirmed: "We've split up - but I've never talked about my private life and I don't intend to now."
After their break-up, she spent two years in a relationship with Jack Huston, a scion of the legendary Huston acting dynasty who starred in the film Twilight: Eclipse, but the relationship reportedly ended as the pair wanted to focus on their careers.
While single in Hollywood, Cat also dated actor Michael McMillian after first meeting the True Blood star at a party. The pair were regularly photographed around the movie capital, with Cat telling friends she thought he was 'The One'.
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But a source told The Mail on Sunday: "It's all over. Cat's disappointed but moving on with her life. She is happy in all aspects of her life apart from her lack of a stable relationship."
She went on to tie the knot with The Late Late Show host Patrick in 2012 after a whirlwind nine-month romance.
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In a candid interview with Tommy Tiernan in January 2023, Patrick revealed that he first met his wife back in 2002 during their time on hit reality TV show, Fame Academy.
Patrick explained: "We each had partners at the time and nothing went on, but there was a wee vibe there." That subtle connection lingered, and the two stayed in touch purely as friends, linked by a sweet ritual of exchanging birthday wishes twice a year.
Cat shared her side of the love story on The Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy in 2020, recalling a particular phonecall that changed everything.
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"There was a night before my birthday - I can't even remember which one, it was thirty-something - Patrick called me just to wish me happy birthday," she said. "He asked what I was doing, and I told him we were having a late brunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I said, 'It's a shame you're not here - you could come along.'"
At the time, Patrick was in a pub at home in Co Down, Northern Ireland. But after the call, he rushed home and booked a 7am flight to Los Angeles. The next day, he strolled into her birthday brunch, leaving Cat in total shock. She later admitted it was then she began to fall for his charm.
Reflecting on the bold move, Patrick said: "I've always been a born romantic… If I had a quid for every rom-com I've cried at. I followed my heart all the way to Los Angeles to surprise my now-wife for lunch. Twelve years and two kids later, I think it worked out."
However, the TV duo revealed on Tuesday that they are no longer a couple in a bombshell statement. They said: "We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved.
"We will continue to be united as loving parents to our children and would therefore kindly ask for our family privacy to be respected. There will be no further comment."